Mount structure for vehicle damper

ABSTRACT

A mount structure for a vehicle damper, configured in such a manner that an end of the piston rod ( 33 ) of the damper ( 17 ) is supported by a vehicle-side member ( 51 ). A nut ( 57 ) engaged with the male thread section ( 42 ) formed on a reduced diameter section ( 41 ) of the piston rod ( 33 ) collectively fastens upper and lower gripping members ( 55, 56 ), a collar member ( 54 ), and upper and lower elastic sections ( 52, 53 ) to the reduced diameter section ( 41 ). An input from the damper body ( 38 ) side is transmitted to the vehicle body-side member ( 51 ) through a transmission member ( 58 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates a mount structure for a vehicle damper,i.e. a vehicle damper mount structure, in which a damper comprises adamper body and a piston rod and the piston rod is supported at an endportion by a vehicle-body-side member via an elastic member.

BACKGROUND ART

Among the conventionally-known vehicle damper mount structures is aninput-separation type damper mount in which an elastic member forattenuating vibration input from a piston rod, members for supporting avehicle body load and an elastic member for attenuating vibration inputfor example from a coil spring to the vehicle body are providedseparately from one another. Also known is a damper mount structure inwhich an input from a bump stopper, which is subject to an impact duringcompression of a damper, as well as an input from the coil spring isattenuated separately from an input to the piston rod (see, for example,patent literature 1).

With the aforementioned vehicle damper mount structure, an input fromthe piston rod and an input from the coil spring or the bump stopper canbe transmitted to the vehicle body separately from each other.

Patent literature 1 discloses a construction of the damper mount forattenuating an input from the damper during transmission to the vehiclebody. Namely, the disclosed damper mount is of the input-separation typewhich is constructed to prevent, through separation of inputs, aplurality of inputs from being applied to a single elastic member andsecure a compression allowance for the elastic member, to thereby allowthe damper mount to achieve a maximum attenuation effect.

Further, in the damper mount structure disclosed in patent literature 1,the piston rod is fixed to an inner cylinder by means of a fasteningmember (nut), and outer metal fittings, to which an input from the coilspring is transmitted, are mounted to the vehicle body by means of abolt.

However, in the case where the fastening sections are providedseparately as above, not only necessary fastening operations tend tobecome complicated but also a space for mounting bolts of the outermetal fittings is required, which would adversely influence a layoutfreedom of components on the vehicle body.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

-   Patent literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open    Publication No. 2001-65624

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

It is therefore an object to provide a vehicle damper mount structurewhich not only can achieve an improved layout freedom of the damper bodybut also can reduce deterioration of attenuating performance that wouldbe caused due to compression of the elastic member. Namely, the presentinvention seeks to provide a vehicle damper mount structure which canachieve both an improved layout freedom of the damper body and reduceddeterioration of the attenuating performance of the damper body.

Solution to Problem

According to claim 1 of the instant application, there is provided avehicle damper mount structure in which a damper comprises a damper bodyand a piston rod and the piston rod is supported at an end portion by avehicle-body-side member, which comprises: the piston rod having areduced-diameter section having a smaller outer diameter than aremaining section of the piston rod, and a male thread section formed ona distal end portion of the reduced-diameter section; upper and lowerelastic sections threaded over the reduced-diameter section andsandwiching therebetween the vehicle-body-side member; a collar memberthreaded over the reduced-diameter section and extending through theupper and lower elastic sections to thereby define a tightening marginof the upper and lower elastic sections; upper and lower sandwichingmembers threaded over the reduced-diameter section and sandwichingtherebetween the upper and lower elastic sections from outside; afastening member screwed on the male screw section to collectivelyfasten the upper and lower sandwiching members, the collar member andthe upper and lower elastic sections to the reduced-diameter section;and a transmission member provided concentrically with the piston rodfor transmitting an input from the damper body to the vehicle-body-sidemember.

According to claim 2, the damper includes a coil spring providedconcentrically with the piston rod and supporting the vehicle-body-sidemember, and the vehicle damper mount structure further comprises abracket provided underneath the transmission member for transmitting aninput from the coil spring to the transmission member.

According to claim 3, the transmission member has an upper portionbiting into and supported in the lower elastic section.

According to claim 4, the damper includes a bump stopper threaded overthe piston rod for lessening an input from the damper body, and thetransmission member is provided between the bump stopper and the lowerelastic section, and the vehicle damper mount structure furthercomprises a connecting elastic section abutting against thevehicle-body-side member and elastically interconnecting thetransmission member and the lower sandwiching member.

According to claim 5, the bumper stopper includes a bump rubber forlessening an input from the dumper body, and a case retaining the bumprubber, and the case has also a transmission function of thetransmission member.

According to claim 6, the transmission member, the collar member, thelower sandwiching member, the lower elastic section and the case areformed integrally.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to claim 1, the upper and lower sandwiching members, thecollar member and the upper and lower elastic sections are collectivelyfastened to the reduced-diameter section. Thus, the damper can besupported by the vehicle-body-side member only at one point by means ofthe fastening member. In this way, the present invention allows a damperfastening operation to be performed with an improved operability.

An input from the piston rod is transmitted to the whole of the upperand lower elastic sections via the collar member and the upper and lowersandwiching members, and an input from the damper body is transmitted tothe vehicle-body-side member via the transmission member. Thus, in thepresent invention, such inputs are not transmitted to the upper andlower elastic sections. Namely, because the input from the piston rodand the input from the damper body are separated from each other, it ispossible to avoid the elastic members (upper and lower elastic sections)from being readily brought to a compressed state, thereby reducingdeterioration of the attenuating performance of the damper. As a result,the present invention can achieve both an improved layout freedom of thedamper and reduced deterioration of the attenuating performance of thedamper.

According to claim 2, not only an input from the damper body but also aninput from the coil spring can be transmitted to the vehicle-body-sidemember via the transmission member. Thus, deterioration of theattenuating performance of the upper and lower elastic sections can bereduced more effectively.

According to claim 3, transmission of vibration to the vehicle-body-sidemember can be reduced because the upper portion of the transmissionmember bites into and supported in the lower elastic section.

According to claim 4, vibration transmitted from the bump stopper can beattenuated by the provision of the connecting elastic sectionelastically interconnecting the transmission member and the lowersandwiching member. Further, with the connecting elastic sectionelastically interconnecting the transmission member and the lowersandwiching member, the input from the bump stopper is hardlytransmitted to the lower elastic section. In this way, the presentinvention can secure a sufficient compression margin as aninput-separation type damper mount.

According to claim 5, the case, also having the transmission function ofthe transmission member, can eliminate a need to provide a separatetransmission member. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost ofthe vehicle damper mount structure.

According to claim 6, the present invention can achieve an improvedassemblability of the vehicle damper mount structure because thetransmission member, the collar member, the lower sandwiching member,the lower elastic section and the case are formed integrally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a suspension apparatus providedwith a vehicle damper employing a damper mount structure of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a damper unit employing a first embodimentof the damper mount structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the damper unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a damper unit employing a first comparativeconventional example and the damper unit employing the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a damper unit employing a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view comparatively showing, by way of comparison, a damperunit employing a second comparative conventional example and a damperunit employing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a damper unit employing a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a damper unit employing a fourthembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a damper unit employing a fifthembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a suspension apparatus 20 is a frontsuspension of a strut type in which a wheel 14 is pivotably mounted to avehicle body 11.

More specifically, the suspension apparatus 20 includes: a lower arm 22of a generally A shape extending from the vehicle body 11 to a knuckle21; a damper unit (shock absorber) 15 provided between the vehicle body11 and the knuckle 21; and an anti-roll bar link 24 connected to thedamper unit 15 via an anti-roll bar 23.

A wheel body (not shown) of the wheel 14 is mounted to the knuckle 21,and a tie rod 27 of a steering gearbox 26 for tilting the wheel 14leftward or rightward relative to a front-rear direction of the vehiclebody is connected to the knuckle 21. Further, a brake disk 28 forbraking the wheel 14 is provided around the knuckle 21. A boot 25 forpreventing adhesion of mud and rainwater is put around the tie rod 27. Abrake caliper 29 supported by the vehicle body 11 for stopping the brakedisk 28 is provided around an outer peripheral portion of the brake disk28.

As shown in FIG. 2, the damper unit 15 is a hydraulic shock absorber ofa strut type which includes a coil spring 16 for absorbing an input fromthe wheel 14, and a damper (vehicular damper) 17 for softening movementof the coil spring 16.

The damper 17 includes a damper body 38, and a piston rod 33 inserted inthe damper body 38. The damper body 38 includes a cylinder 32 alongwhich the piston rod 33 slides, an outer tube 31 accommodating thereinthe cylinder 32, and a stopper cap 37 for abutting against a bumpstopper 64. The outer tube 31 includes a mounting stay 35 mounted to thesuspension apparatus 20, and a spring support section 36 supporting oneend of the coil spring 16.

The piston rod 33 has a reduced-diameter section 41 having a smallerouter diameter than the remaining section of the piston rod 33, and amale thread section 42 formed on a distal end portion of thereduced-diameter section 41.

In the damper unit 15, the one end of the coil spring 16 is set on thespring support section 36 of the outer tube 31, and a bracket 63 is seton the other end of the coil spring 16 via a spring sheet 44. Further, abump stopper assembly 69 is set on the bracket 63 via a damper member46. A washer 61 is set on the reduced-diameter section 41 of the pistonrod 33, and a flanged cylinder 67 is set on the reduced-diameter section41. Further, an elastic section assembly 68 is set on the flangedcylinder 67 and pressed in the bump stopper assembly 69. In this state,a distal end portion of the piston rod 33 is inserted into avehicle-body-side member 51, and an upper elastic section 52 is set inthe flanged cylinder 67. The vehicle-body-side member 51 is sandwichedbetween a lower elastic section 53 and the upper elastic section 52, andan upper gripping or sandwiching member 55 is set on the upper elasticsection 52. Further, a fastening member (nut) 57 is screwed on the malethread section 42 to complete mounting of the piston rod 33 to thevehicle-body-side member 51.

As will be later described, the spring sheet 44 has a dust cover 45formed integrally therewith. The flanged cylinder 67 integrally has alower sandwiching member 56 and a collar member 54. The elastic sectionassembly 68 comprises the lower elastic section 53 and a transmissionmember 58 assembled integrally with each other. The bump stopperassembly 69 comprises the bracket 63 retaining the coil spring 16, thebump stopper 64 composed of an elastic bump rubber 65 and a case 66, anda cylinder member 62 in which the transmission member 58 is pressed.

In the most compressed state of the damper unit (hydraulic damper) 15,the stopper cap 37 of the outer tube 31 abuts against the bump stopper64 to restrict a maximum compressed stroke of the damper unit 15.

The dust cover 45 is formed integrally with the spring sheet 44 in sucha manner that the outer tube 31 and the piston rod 33 are covered withthe dust cover 45.

Namely, the damper unit 15 compresses and contracts in such a manner asto absorb, by resilient force of the coil spring 16, an impact appliedto the vehicle from a road surface. Vibration of the damper unit 15produced due to the compression and contraction of the damper unit 15can be promptly suppressed by attenuating force produced as the piston(not shown) moves vertically or in an up-down direction in response tothe compression and contraction.

The following describe various examples of a construction for mountingthe piston rod 33 to the vehicle-body-side member 51, as first to fifthembodiments of the vehicle damper mount structure of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first embodiment of the vehicle damper mountstructure includes the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53, thecollar member 54, the upper and lower sandwiching members 55 and 56, thefastening member 57, the transmission member 58, the washer 61, thecylinder member 62, the bracket 63, and the bump stopper 64.

The upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53 sandwich therebetween thevehicle-body-side member 51. The collar member 54 is threaded over thereduced-diameter section 41 and extends through the upper and lowerelastic sections 52 and 53 to thereby define a tightening margin of theupper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53. The upper and lowersandwiching members 55 and 56 are threaded over the reduced-diametersection 41 and sandwich therebetween the upper and lower elasticsections 52 and 53 from outside. The fastening member 57 is screwed onthe male screw section 42 to collectively fasten the upper and lowersandwiching members 55 and 56, collar member 54 and upper and lowerelastic sections 52 and 53 to the reduced-diameter section 41. Thetransmission member 58 is provided concentrically with the piston rod 33for transmitting an input from the damper body 38 (FIG. 2) to thevehicle-body-side member 51. The washer 61 is threaded over thereduced-diameter section 41 and set underneath the lower elastic section53. The cylinder member 62 is provided under the transmission member 58with the transmission member 58 pressed in the cylinder member 62.Further, the bracket 63 is provided under the cylinder member 62. Thebump stopper 64 is provided under the bracket 63 for lessening an inputfrom the dumper body 38.

The collar member 54 and the lower sandwiching member 56 are formedintegrally with each other to together constitute the flanged cylinder67. Further, the lower elastic section 53 and the transmission member 58are assembled integrally to together constitute the elastic sectionassembly 68. The transmission member 58 has an upper portion biting intoand supported in the lower elastic section 53.

The bumper stopper 64 includes the elastic bump rubber 65 for not onlyrestricting the maximum compressed stroke of the damper (vehicle damper)17 but also lessening an input from the dumper body 38 (FIG. 2), and thecase 66 retaining the bump rubber 65. In the bump stopper assembly 69,the cylinder member 62 and the case 66 are spot-welded to the bracket63, and the bump rubber 65 is secured to the case 66.

The upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53 are formed of an elasticmaterial, such as rubber. The transmission member 58 transmits, to thevehicle-body-side member 51, an input applied from the coil spring 16 tothe bracket 63 and an input from the damper body 38 (FIG. 2).

The bracket 63 transmits the input from the coil spring 16 to thevehicle-body-side member 51 via the spring sheet 44 and damper member46, but also transmits the input from the damper body 38 (FIG. 2) to thevehicle-body-side member 51 via the bump stopper 64.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 4, a first comparative conventional example of adamper mount structure includes a piston rod 201 fastened to the centerof a mounting bracket assembly 202 by means of a fastening member 203.The piston rod 201 is also fastened to a vehicle-body-side member 205 bymeans of a plurality of embedded bolts 204 provided diametricallyoutwardly of the mounting bracket assembly 202.

Thus, in the first comparative conventional example of the damper mountstructure, an input from the piston rod 201 is transmitted to thevehicle-body-side member 205 by way of the mounting bracket assembly 202as indicated by arrow a1, and inputs from a damper body (not shown) of avehicle damper 207 and from a coil spring 208 are transmitted directlyto the vehicle-body-side member 205 as indicated by arrow a2. Thus, theinput from the damper body (not shown) of the vehicle damper 207 and theinput from the coil spring 208 are not applied to an elastic member 209on the piston rod 201, so that it is possible to reduce deterioration ofattenuating performance of the elastic member 209. However, a widemounting space would be required as indicated by S1, which wouldadversely influence a layout freedom of the damper 207.

In the first embodiment of the damper mount structure, as shown in (b)of FIG. 4, an input from the piston rod 33 is transmitted to thevehicle-body-side member 51 by way of the upper and lower elasticsections 52 and 53 as indicated by arrow b1, and inputs from the damperbody 38 (FIG. 2) of the damper 17 and from the coil spring 16 aretransmitted directly to the vehicle-body-side member 51 via thetransmission member 58 as indicated by arrow b2. Thus, the input fromthe damper body 38 of the damper 17 and the input from the coil spring16 are not applied to the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53 onthe piston rod 33, so that it is possible to reduce deterioration ofattenuating performance of the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and53.

Further, as regards a necessary mounting space, a necessary mountingrange S2 of the first embodiment of the damper mount structure issmaller than the mounting range S1 of the first comparative conventionalexample of the damper mount structure ((a) of FIG. 4) (i.e., S2<S1).Thus, there can be achieved an improved layout freedom of the vehicledamper 17. Further, the damper 17 can be supported by thevehicle-body-side member 51 only at one point by means of the fasteningmember 57. In this way, the instant embodiment allows an operation forfastening the damper body 17 to be performed with an improvedoperability.

Further, in the first embodiment of the damper mount structure, as shownin FIGS. 2, 3 and (b) of FIG. 4, the damper 17 comprises the damper body38 and the piston rod 33, and the piston rod 33 is supported at its endportion by the vehicle-body-side member 51. The piston rod 33 has thereduced-diameter section 41 having a smaller outer diameter than theremaining section of the piston rod 33, and the male thread section 42formed on the distal end portion of the reduced-diameter section 41.

Further, the first embodiment of the damper mount structure includes:the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53 threaded over thereduced-diameter section 41 and sandwiching therebetween thevehicle-body-side member 51; the collar member 54 threaded over thereduced-diameter section 41 and extending through the upper and lowerelastic sections 52 and 53 to thereby define the tightening margin ofthe upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53; the upper and lowersandwiching members 55 and 56 threaded over the reduced-diameter section41 and sandwiching therebetween the upper and lower elastic sections 52and 53 from outside; the fastening member 57 screwed on the male screwsection 42 to collectively fasten the upper and lower sandwichingmembers 55 and 56, collar member 54 and upper and lower elastic sections52 and 53 to the reduced-diameter section 41; and the transmissionmember 58 provided concentrically with the piston rod 33 fortransmitting an input from the damper body 38 to the vehicle-body-sidemember 51. Thus, the damper 17 can be supported by the vehicle-body-sidemember 51 only at one point by means of the fastening member 57. In thisway, the instant embodiment allows the operation for fastening thedamper body 17 to be performed with an improved operability, but alsopermits an improved layout freedom of the damper 17.

An input from the piston rod 33 is transmitted to the whole of the upperand lower elastic sections 52 and 53 via the collar member 54 and theupper and lower sandwiching members 55 and 56, and an input from thedamper body 38 is transmitted to the vehicle-body-side member 51 via thetransmission member 58. Thus, such inputs are not transmitted to theupper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53. Namely, because the inputfrom the piston rod 33 and the input from the damper body 38 areseparated from each other, it is possible to avoid the elastic members(upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53) from being readily broughtto a compressed state, thereby reducing deterioration of the attenuatingperformance of the damper 17. As a result, the instant embodiment canachieve both an improved layout freedom of the damper 17 and reduceddeterioration of the attenuating performance of the damper 17.

Further, as noted above, the damper 17 includes the coil spring 16provided concentrically with the piston rod 33 and supporting thevehicle-body-side member 51, and the bracket 63 for transmitting aninput from the coil spring 16 to the transmission member 58 is providedunderneath the transmission member 58. Thus, not only the input from thedamper body 38, but also the input from the coil spring 16 can betransmitted to the vehicle-body-side member 51 via the transmissionmember 58. As a result, deterioration of the attenuating performance ofthe upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53 can be reduced moreeffectively.

Furthermore, because the transmission member 58 has the upper portionbiting into and supported in the lower elastic section 53, transmissionof vibration to the vehicle-body-side member 51 can be reduced.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the damper mount structure shown in FIG. 5 isdifferent from the first embodiment in that the coil spring 16 providedin the first embodiment is removed from the second embodiment of thedamper mount structure. Similar elements to those in the firstembodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals as used for thefirst embodiment and will not be described here to avoid unnecessaryduplication.

The second embodiment of the damper mount structure shown in FIG. 5includes: the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53; the collarmember 54; the upper and lower sandwiching members 55 and 56; thefastening member 57; the transmission member 58; the washer 61; thecylinder member 62; the bracket 63; and a bump stopper 84. The collarmember 54 and the lower sandwiching member 56 are formed integrally witheach other to constitute the flanged cylinder 67.

The bumper stopper 84, which restricts the maximum compressed stroke ofthe damper 17, includes a bump rubber 85 for lessening an input from thedumper body 38 (FIG. 2), and a case 86 retaining the bump rubber 85. Ina bump stopper assembly 89, the case 62 is spot-welded to the cylindermember 62, and the bump rubber 85 is secured to the case 86.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 6, a second comparative conventional example ofa damper mount structure includes a piston rod 222 fastened to avehicle-body-side member 221 by means of a fastening member 225 viaupper and lower elastic sections 223 and 224. Namely, a damper 227 canbe supported by the vehicle-body-side member 221 only at one point bymeans of the fastening member 225.

However, in the second comparative conventional example of the dampermount structure, an input from the piston rod 221 is transmitted to thevehicle-body-side member 221 by way of the upper and lower elasticsections 223 and 224 as indicated by arrow c1, and an input from thedamper body (not shown) of the vehicle damper 227 too is transmitted tothe vehicle-body-side member 221 as indicated by arrow c2 by way of thelower elastic section 224. As a consequence, the elastic members (upperand lower elastic sections 223 and 224) are brought to a compressedstate, so that the attenuating performance of the vehicle damper 227 mayundesirably deteriorate.

In the second embodiment of the damper mount structure, as shown in (b)of FIG. 6, the piston rod 33 is mounted to the vehicle-body-side member51 via the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53, and thetransmission member 58 is provided between the cylindrical member 62 andthe vehicle-body-side member 51 for transmitting an input from thedamper body 38 (FIG. 2) directly to the vehicle-body-side member 51.

Thus, the damper 17 can be supported by the vehicle-body-side member 51only at one point by means of the fastening member 57. In this way, theinstant embodiment allows the fastening operation to be performed withan improved operability, but also permits an improved layout freedom ofthe damper 17.

In the second embodiment of the damper mount structure (FIG. 5 and (b)of FIG. 6), an input from the piston rod 33 is transmitted to thevehicle-body-side member 51 by way of the upper and lower elasticsections 52 and 53 as indicated by arrow d1, and an input from thedamper body 38 (FIG. 2) of the damper 17 is transmitted directly to thevehicle-body-side member 51 via the transmission member 58 as indicatedby arrow d2. Because the input from the damper body 38 of the damper 17is not applied to the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53 on thepiston rod 33, it is possible to reduce deterioration of the attenuatingperformance of the upper and lower elastic sections 52 and 53.

An input from the piston rod 33 is transmitted to the whole of the upperand lower elastic sections 52 and 53 via the collar member 54, upper andlower sandwiching members 55 and 56. Because an input from the damperbody 38 is transmitted to the vehicle-body-side member 51 via thetransmission member 58, the input is not transmitted to the upper andlower elastic sections 52 and 53. Namely, because the input from thepiston rod 33 and the input from the damper body 38 are separated fromeach other, it is possible to avoid the elastic members (upper and lowerelastic sections) 52 and 53 from being readily brought to a compressedstate, thereby reducing deterioration of the attenuating performance ofthe damper 17. As a result, the instant embodiment can achieve both animproved layout freedom of the damper 17 and reduced deterioration ofattenuating performance of the damper 17.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the damper mount structure. Similarelements to those in the first embodiment of the damper mount structure(FIG. 3) are indicated by the same reference numerals as used for thefirst embodiment and will not be described here to avoid unnecessaryduplication.

The third embodiment of the damper mount structure shown in FIG. 7includes: upper and lower elastic sections 92 and 93 sandwichingtherebetween a vehicle-body-side member 91; a collar member 94 threadedover the reduced-diameter section 41 and extending through the upper andlower elastic sections 92 and 93 to thereby define the tightening marginof the upper and lower elastic sections 92 and 93; upper and lowersandwiching members 95 and 96 threaded over the reduced-diameter section41 and sandwiching therebetween the upper and lower elastic sections 92and 93 from outside; a fastening member 97 screwed on the male screwsection 42 to collectively fasten the upper and lower sandwichingmembers 95 and 96, collar ember 94 and upper and lower elastic sections92 and 93 to the reduced-diameter section 41; a transmission member 98provided concentrically with the piston rod 33 for transmitting an inputfrom the damper body 38 (FIG. 2) to the vehicle-body-side member 91; aconnecting elastic section 99 abutting against the vehicle-body-sidemember 91 and elastically interconnecting the transmission member 98 andthe lower sandwiching member 96; and a bump stopper 104 provided underthe transmission member 98 for lessening an input from the damper body38.

The vehicle-body-side member 91 includes an inner panel 101, an outerpanel 102, an upper holder section 103 accommodating therein the upperelastic section 92, and a lower holder section 108 accommodating thereinthe lower elastic section 93. The bumper stopper 104 includes an elasticbump rubber 105 for not only restricting the maximum compressed strokeof the damper 17 but also lessening an input from the dumper body 38(FIG. 2), and a case 106 retaining the bump rubber 105.

The lower sandwiching member 96 and the transmission member 98 areinterconnected via the connecting elastic section 99, and thetransmission member 98 is spot-welded to the case 106. Namely, the lowersandwiching member 96, the transmission member 98, the connectingelastic section 99, the bump rubber 105 and the case 106 are formedintegrally to constitute a connecting elastic section assembly 109.

In the third embodiment of the damper mount structure, the damper 17includes the bump stopper 104 threaded over the piston rod 33 forlessening an input from the damper body 38 (FIG. 2). The transmissionmember 98 is provided between the bump stopper 104 and the lower elasticsection 93. Further, the connecting elastic section 99, abutting againstthe vehicle-body-side member 91 and elastically interconnecting thetransmission member 98 and the lower sandwiching member 96, canattenuate vibration transmitted from the bump stopper 104. Further, withthe connecting elastic section 99 elastically interconnecting thetransmission member 98 and the lower sandwiching member 96, the inputfrom the bump stopper 104 is hardly transmitted to the lower elasticsection 93. In this way, the instant embodiment can secure a sufficientcompression margin as the input-separation type damper mount.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the damper mount structure. Similarelements to those in the first embodiment of the damper mount structure(FIG. 3) are indicated by the same reference numerals as used for thefirst embodiment and will not be described here to avoid unnecessaryduplication.

The fourth embodiment of the damper mount structure shown in FIG. 8includes: upper and lower elastic sections 122 and 123 sandwichingtherebetween a vehicle-body-side member 121; a collar member 124threaded over the reduced-diameter section 41 and extending through theupper and lower elastic sections 122 and 123 to thereby define thetightening margin of the upper and lower elastic sections 122 and 123;an upper sandwiching member 125 threaded over the reduced-diametersection 41 and pressing against the upper elastic sections 122 fromoutside; a bump stopper 134 fitted over the female thread section 42 forlessening inputs from the upper sandwiching member 125 and damper body38 (FIG. 2); and a fastening member 127 collectively fastening thecollar member 124, upper and lower elastic sections 122 and 123 and bumpstopper 134 to the reduced-diameter section 41.

The vehicle-body-side member 121 includes an inner panel 131, an outerpanel 132, an upper holder section 133 having the upper elastic section122 fitted therein, and a lower holder section 138 having the lowerelastic section 123 fitted therein. The bumper stopper 134 includes anelastic bump rubber 135 for not only restricting the maximum compressedstroke of the damper 17 but also lessening an input from the dumper body38 (FIG. 2), and a case 136 retaining the bump rubber 135.

The lower elastic section 123 is secured to the case 136 of the bumperstopper 134. Namely, the lower elastic section 123, the bump rubber 135and the case 136 together constitute a bumper stopper assembly 139.Further, the lower elastic section 123 has a space portion 123 a aroundits outer periphery adjacent to the case 136, so that an input from thecase 136 is transmitted directly to the lower holder section 138 of thevehicle-body-side member 121.

The case 136 has also the transmission function of the transmissionmember 58 (FIG. 3) and the sandwiching function of the lower sandwichingmember 56 (FIG. 3).

In the fourth embodiment of the damper mount structure, the bumperstopper 134 includes the bump rubber 135 for lessening an input from thedumper body 38 (FIG. 2), and the case 136 retaining the bump rubber 135.The case 136, also having the transmission function of the transmissionmember 58 (FIG. 3), can eliminate a need to provide a separatetransmission member. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost ofthe vehicle damper mount structure.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the damper mount structure. Similarelements to those in the first embodiment of the damper mount structure(FIG. 3) are indicated by the same reference numerals as used for thefirst embodiment and will not be described here to avoid unnecessaryduplication.

The fifth embodiment of the damper mount structure shown in FIG. 9includes: upper and lower elastic sections 152 and 153 sandwichingtherebetween a vehicle-body-side member 151; a collar member 94 threadedover the reduced-diameter section 41 and extending through the upper andlower elastic sections 152 and 153 to thereby define the tighteningmargin of the upper and lower elastic sections 152 and 153; upper andlower sandwiching members 155 and 156 threaded over the reduced-diametersection 41 and sandwiching therebetween the upper and lower elasticsections 152 and 153 from outside; a fastening member 157 screwed on themale screw section 42 to collectively fasten the upper and lowersandwiching members 155 and 156, collar ember 154 and upper and lowerelastic sections 152 and 153 to the reduced-diameter section 41; atransmission member 158 provided concentrically with the piston rod 33for transmitting an input from the damper body 38 (FIG. 2) to thevehicle-body-side member 151; and a bump stopper 164 provided under thetransmission member 158 for lessening an input from the damper body 38.

The vehicle-body-side member 151 includes an inner panel 161, an outerpanel 162, an upper holder section 163 having the upper elastic section152 fitted therein, and a lower holder section 168 having the lowerelastic section 153 fitted therein. The bumper stopper 164 includes anelastic bump rubber 165 for not only restricting the maximum compressedstroke of the damper 17 but also lessening an input from the dumper body38 (FIG. 2), and the case 166 retaining the bump rubber 165.

The collar member 154 and the lower sandwiching member 156 are formedintegrally with each other to constitute a flanged cylinder 167. Thetransmission member 158 is spot-welded to the case 166, and thetransmission member 158 and the flanged cylinder 167 are interconnectedvia the lower elastic section 153. Namely, the transmission member 158,the collar member 154, the lower sandwiching member 156, the lowerelastic section 163, the case 166 and the bump rubber 165 togetherconstitute a bump rubber assembly 169.

Because the transmission member 158, the collar member 154, the lowersandwiching member 156, the lower elastic section 153 and the case 166are formed integrally, the aforementioned arrangements of the fifthembodiment can achieve an improved assemblability of the damper mountstructure.

Whereas the first embodiment of the vehicle damper mount structure hasbeen described above in relation to the case where the piston rod 33 ismounted to the vehicle-body-side member 51, it is not so limited, and anend portion of the outer tube 31 may be mounted to the vehicle-body-sidemember 51.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The vehicle damper mount structure of the present invention is wellsuited for application to passenger vehicles, such as sedans and wagons.

LEGEND

-   -   16 . . . coil spring, 17 . . . damper body (vehicle damper), 33        . . . piston rod, 38 . . . damper body, 41 . . .        reduced-diameter section, 42 . . . male thread section, 51 . . .        vehicle-body-side member, 52, 53 . . . upper and lower elastic        sections, 54 . . . collar member, 55, 56 . . . upper and lower        sandwiching members, 57 . . . fastening member, 58 . . .        transmission member, 63 . . . bracket, 91 . . .        vehicle-body-side member, 93 . . . lower elastic section, 96 . .        . lower sandwiching member, 98 . . . transmission member, 99 . .        . connecting elastic section, 104 . . . bump stopper, 134 . . .        bump stopper, 135 . . . bump rubber, 136 . . . case, 153 . . .        lower elastic section, 154 . . . collar member, 156 . . . lower        sandwiching member, 158 . . . transmission member, 166 . . .        case

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicle damper mount structure in which adamper comprises a damper body and a piston rod and the piston rod issupported at an end portion by a vehicle-body-side member, characterizedin that said vehicle damper mount structure comprises: the piston rodhaving a reduced-diameter section having a smaller outer diameter than aremaining section of the piston rod, and a male thread section formed ona distal end portion of the reduced-diameter section; upper and lowerelastic sections threaded over the reduced-diameter section andsandwiching therebetween the vehicle-body-side member; a collar memberthreaded over the reduced-diameter section and extending through theupper and lower elastic sections to thereby define a tightening marginof the upper and lower elastic sections; upper and lower sandwichingmembers threaded over the reduced-diameter section and sandwichingtherebetween the upper and lower elastic sections from outside; afastening member screwed on the male screw section to collectivelyfasten the upper and lower sandwiching members, the collar member andthe upper and lower elastic sections to the reduced-diameter section;and a transmission member, provided concentrically with the piston rodin such a manner as to astride over the lower elastic section axially ofthe piston rod, for transmitting an input from the damper body to thevehicle-body-side member without compressing the lower elastic sectionto above a predetermined value; and a restraining section, provided tothe vehicle-body-side member, for restraining movement of thetransmission member owing to a load transmitted from the transmissionmember in an axial direction of the damper and in a direction normal tothe axial direction.
 2. The vehicle damper mount structure according toclaim 1, wherein the damper includes a coil spring providedconcentrically with the piston rod and supporting the vehicle-body-sidemember, and which further comprises a bracket provided underneath thetransmission member for transmitting an input from the coil spring tothe transmission member.
 3. The vehicle damper mount structure accordingto claim 2, wherein the transmission member has an upper portion bitinginto and supported in the lower elastic section.
 4. The vehicle dampermount structure according to claim 2, wherein the damper includes a bumpstopper threaded over the piston rod for lessening an input from thedamper body, and the transmission member is provided between the bumpstopper and the lower elastic section, and which further comprises aconnecting elastic section abutting against the vehicle-body-side memberand elastically interconnecting the transmission member and the lowersandwiching member.
 5. The vehicle damper mount structure according toclaim 2, wherein the bumper stopper includes a bump rubber for lesseningan input from the dumper body, and a case retaining the bump rubber, andwherein the case has also a transmission function of the transmissionmember.
 6. The vehicle damper mount structure according to claim 2,wherein the transmission member, the collar member, the lowersandwiching member, the lower elastic section and the case are formedintegrally.
 7. The vehicle damper mount structure according to claim 1,wherein the transmission member has an upper portion biting into andsupported in the lower elastic section.
 8. The vehicle damper mountstructure according to claim 7, wherein the damper includes a bumpstopper threaded over the piston rod for lessening an input from thedamper body, and the transmission member is provided between the bumpstopper and the lower elastic section, and which further comprises aconnecting elastic section abutting against the vehicle-body-side memberand elastically interconnecting the transmission member and the lowersandwiching member.
 9. The vehicle damper mount structure according toclaim 7, wherein the bumper stopper includes a bump rubber for lesseningan input from the dumper body, and a case retaining the bump rubber, andwherein the case has also a transmission function of the transmissionmember.
 10. The vehicle damper mount structure according to claim 7,wherein the transmission member, the collar member, the lowersandwiching member, the lower elastic section and the case are formedintegrally.
 11. The vehicle damper mount structure according to claim 1,wherein the damper includes a bump stopper threaded over the piston rodfor lessening an input from the damper body, and the transmission memberis provided between the bump stopper and the lower elastic section, andwhich further comprises a connecting elastic section abutting againstthe vehicle-body-side member and elastically interconnecting thetransmission member and the lower sandwiching member.
 12. The vehicledamper mount structure according to claim 11, wherein the bumper stopperincludes a bump rubber for lessening an input from the dumper body, anda case retaining the bump rubber, and wherein the case has also atransmission function of the transmission member.
 13. The vehicle dampermount structure according to claim 11, wherein the transmission member,the collar member, the lower sandwiching member, the lower elasticsection and the case are formed integrally.
 14. The vehicle damper mountstructure according to claim 1, wherein the bumper stopper includes abump rubber for lessening an input from the dumper body, and a caseretaining the bump rubber, and wherein the case has also a transmissionfunction of the transmission member.
 15. The vehicle damper mountstructure according to claim 14, wherein the transmission member, thecollar member, the lower sandwiching member, the lower elastic sectionand the case are formed integrally.
 16. The vehicle damper mountstructure according to claim 1, wherein the transmission member, thecollar member, the lower sandwiching member, the lower elastic sectionand the case are formed integrally.